Post-stroke balance training: Role of force platform with visual feedback technique

Srivastava, Abhishek; Taly, Arun B.; Gupta, Anupam; Kumar, Senthil; Murali, Thyloth

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2009.08.051

« Previous Next »Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 287, Issue 1 , Pages 89-93, 15 December 2009

Post-stroke balance training: Role of force platform with visual feedback technique☆

Abhishek Srivastava
- Presently at, Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, 400053, India
- Corresponding author. Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Four Bunglows, Andheri West, Mumbai 400053, India. Tel.: +91 22 30696969, +91 9324582986 (mobile); fax: +91 22 30972030.
Arun B. Taly
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
Anupam Gupta
- Department of Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
Senthil Kumar
- Department of Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
Thyloth Murali
- Department of Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India

Received 12 June 2009; received in revised form 19 August 2009; accepted 20 August 2009. published online 07 September 2009.

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the role of balance training on Force Platform with Visual Feedback technique (FPVF) in improving balance and functional outcome in chronic stroke survivors.

Design

Prospective, repeated measure study.

Settings

Neurological rehabilitation department of a tertiary research center.

Participants

First episode of supra-tentorial stroke with more than 3months duration, ability to follow 3 step commands, and impaired balance and gait with ability to walk independently or with one person support (Functional Ambulation Category II–IV).

Interventions

Training on “Balance Master” for 20 sessions (20min/day, 5days/week for 4weeks).

Outcome measures

Balance on Berg Balance Scale, Balance Index and Limits of Stability scores, walking ability on over ground walking speed, and functional ability on Barthel Index. Evaluation was done pre- and post-training and at 3months follow-up. Statistical analysis was done by Paired t test on SPSS 13.0.

Results

Forty five patients (M:W: 36:9, age range: 22–65years, mean post-stroke duration of 16.51±15.14months) were included. Forty (89.9%) subjects completed training and all primary and secondary outcome measures showed statistically significant improvement (p<0.000) at the end of training. Thirty-four (75.6%) subjects were followed up and statistically significant improvement (p<0.000) was maintained for all outcome measures.

Conclusion

Balance training by FPVF technique significantly improves balance and functional outcome even in chronic phase after stroke. Large scale, controlled studies are recommended.

Keywords: Balance, Cerebrovascular accidents, Motor, Disability, Rehabilitation